Sintering machine



April 14, 1931- E. w. SHALLOCK SINTERING MACHING Filed July 16, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1111f en'tfir. [dwm Wad/06$ fl wn, W

April 14, 1931- E. w. SHALLOCK 1,800,571

SINTERING MACHING Inwfenfir [dz/0rd Ll/56621 00? Mme 5 58L x I I K @m M ii ms Ap 14, 1931- E. w. SHALLOCK SINTERING MACHING Filed July 1s, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 14, 1931 vuurrlazn STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD W. SHALLOCK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO AMERICAN ORE RECLA- MATION COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK SINTERING Application filed July 16,

This invention relates to sintering machines and more particularly to a machine for continuously sintering ore and material of like nature.

My sintering machines of the Dwight & Lloyd continuous type, now well known in the art, the material to be sintered is carried by a train of separate pallets that travel upon the upper run of an endless track, for 1 the sinteringoperation, and then pass down around one end of the machine, being thereb inverted to discharge the sintered mate-' .rial, after which they return along the lower run of the track to the opposite endof the machine. The pallets are elevated to the upper level to receive a fresh charge of material, and the train of pallets propelled by means atthe feed end of the track only, the track being longer than the train of pallets thus leaving an expansion space. In this type of machine, it is necessary to provide means for preventing separation of the pallets as they pass about the discharge, or delivery, end of the track. This is important as the sinter will fall between the adjacent pallets at this point, if the pallets separate, and unless this sinter is completely removed, improper spacing of the pallets on the return portion of the track will result and the pallets will not be properly spaced for engagement by the elevating and propelling means at the feed end of the track. As a result, the machine will wreck itself, causing damage and expense for repair as well as serious loss due to shut down of the machine. To avoid separation of the pallets passing about the delivery end of the track, and the serious objections attendant upon such separation, referred to, it has been proposed to provide an upgrade in the return portion of the track somewhat beyond the delivery end thereof. The return portion of the track is also provided, "beyond the upgrade, with a downgrade extending to the elevating and propellin means,.the separation, or space, between t e end pallets of the train occurring at ttd e juncture of the upgrade and the down ra e. g The upgrade on the return portion of the track serves to retard the travel of pallets MACHINE 1928. Serial llo. 293,252.

thereon, to such an extent that these allets are pushed along the upgrade by the ollowing pallets. As a result, the pallets passing about the delivery end of the track are maintained in contact and possibility of the sinter entering between these pallets, with the attendant evils, is eliminated.

A sintering machine of what may be termed the free pallet upgrade type, above referred to, is disclosed in the patent to J. R. Linney, 1,563,759, of December 1, 1925. This machine has proved to be a great improvement over the prior art and hi hly eflicient in operation. It has been found, 'owever, that under oertain unfavorable conditions, as when the machine is operating at relatively high speed or pallets of unusually heavy weightare used, there is a tendency for the pallets on the upgrade of the return portion to hammer and pound together. While this does not materially interfere with the operation of the machine, normally, it is objectionable as causing damage both to the machine and to the pallets, due to subjecting the same to undesirable jars and stresses. This pounding together of the pallets is caused by separation of certain of the pallets on the upgrade. Those pallets which are disposed adjacent the top of the upgrade are not held back by pallets above them, as are the pallets at the lower portion of the upgrade.

In the operation of the machine, the pallets are propelled along the upper run and about the delivery end of the track by a succession of impulses or pushes, though such pallets travel at a substantially uniform rate and are maintained in contact. This is due to the fact that the pallets are propelled by a sprocket wheel which renders it impossible to exert a continuous and uniform pressure on the pallets for propelling them. This is not of practical importance, however, so far as the general operation of the machine, as it relates to the propelling of the pallets and the maintain-. ing of the pallets about the delivery end of the track in contact, is concerned. These im pulses, or pushes, are transmittedthrough the train of pallets beyond the sprocket wheels and extending about the delivery end of the track, to the pallets on the upgrade of the return portion of the track. The upper ones of these pallets, due to momentum, will travel upon the upgrade a somewhat greater distance than the lower ones of the pallets on the upgrade. This results in separation of the upper pallets on the upgrade, and this separation is immediately succeeded by a further push, or impulse, on the lower pallets of the upgrade, at which time the separated upper pallets are traveling down the upgrade due-to gravity. As a result, the separated pallets contact with the following pallets on the upgrade and with each other, causingthe pounding between the pallets on the upgrade of the return portion of the track, abgve referred to. This pounding is not seriously objectionable when the machine is operated at moderate or normal speed and where pallets of light or medium weight are used. I

In machines which are operated at high speed, and where heavy pallets are used, however, the pounding of the pallets is objectionable.

I have found that it is possible to eliminate pounding of the pallets, when an upgrade on the return portion of the track is used, by providing suitable means supplemental to the upgrade for retarding movement of the pallets. One of the main objects of my invention is to provide simple and eflicient means which can be readily applied to sintering machines having an upgrade on the return portion of the track, such means being of comparatively small cost and acting to prevent pounding of the pallets. A further object is to provide means for frictionally engaging the pallets on' the return portion of the track in such manner as to retard the pallets to a' sufficient extent to assure the maintenance of contact of the pallets between the sprocket wheels at the feed end of the track and such friction means. A further object is to provide a friction device, or shoe, which will retard the pallets on the return portion of the track in such manner as to In its broader aspects my invention com- 1 prehends the provision of means supplemental'to the return portion of the track for retarding travel of pallets on such return portion, whether the return portion be provided with an upgrade or not. A further object is to provide means of the character stated which is effectively braced against movement longitudinally of the track and is adjustable toward and away from the return portion of the track, as conditions may require. Further objects and advantages will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a sintering machine constructed in accordance with my invention;

and associated parts, parts being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through the lower portion of the track beyond the brake shoe and looking towards the latter and in the direction of the delivery end of the track;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentar sectional view through one of the mem ers of the shoe structure, the supporting frame therefor, tension rods, and associated parts being shown fragmentarily and in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the shoe-supporting frame;

Fig. 6 is a. fragmentary underneath perspective view of one of the shoe members;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view through the shoe-supporting frame and as sociated arts taken substantially on line 77 of 1g. 1, on an enlarged scale.

The machine to which my invention is ap- Fig. 2 is a plan view of the friction shoe plied is, in its broader aspect, of a construction well known in the art. This machine includes a main supportin structure, or frame,

. 1 upon which is mounte an endless track 2 of known construction. This track receives pallets 3 which travel thereon by means of supporting rollers 4. These pallets are separated from each other and form a train which travels'continuously upon the track during the operation of the machine.

A drive shaft 5 is suitably mounted at the feed end of the track and is rotated by means of a suitable gear 6 secured thereon which mesheswith a pinion (not shown) secured on a 'countershaft 7 suitably mounted on the frame 1. A gear 8 is keyed on a shaft 7 and is driven, through a suitable transmission 9, from a pulley 10 which may be driven in any suitable manner. Obviously the shaft 5 may be rotated in an 'other suitable or preferred manner. This s aft has secured thereon, ad- ]acent each end, two sprocket wheels 11. These sprocket wheels engage the pallets 3 and elevate them from the lower run of the track to the upper run thereof and propel the'pallets along the track to and above the Y delivery end thereof, where the sinter is delivered or discharged from the pallets which are inverted as they pass from the upper run tothe lower run of the track. Suitable retaimn members, such. as angle strips, are

provi ed at the delivery end of the track and above the return portion thereof, these strips acting to retain the pallets on the track in a manner well understood in the art.

As the pallets areelevated and propelled along the upper run of the track by the s rocket wheels 11, they first pass beneath a evice 12 by means of which a quantity of ore or other material to be sintered is supplied to the pallet. This device 12 may be in the form of a hopper or of a swingingipout. O viously, any suitable means can employed for sup lying the ore, or other material, to the pa let. After the pallet receives its charge of material to be'sintered, it passes beneath an igniting device 13 of suitable type which is disposed a short distance in advance of the device 12. The ore is thus ignited and, during continued travel of the pallet, is subjected to down draft induced through the grate of the pallet by means of suitable suction or induction devices connected to hoods or mufliers 14 over which the pallets pass, the underfaces of the pallets being disposed closely adjacent the upper edges of the mufliers. The construction and operation of the means for producing the down draft through the pallets is well understood in this art and need not be illustrated nor described.

in detail. By the time a pallet reaches the.

discharge or delivery end of the track, the ore, or other material carried thereby has been completely sintered and the sinter discharged -from the pallet by gravity as it passes about the delivery end of the track. It is important, for reasons above pointed out, that the pallets be maintained in contact at and about the delivery end of the track to prevent sinter from entering between the pallets. To accomplish this it is known in the art to provide an upgrade on the return portion of the track. a 4

While this upgrade is very efficient in many respects, it isjsubject to certain minor obabove pointed out, when the machine is operatin at medium speed and light or medium weig t pallets are used. When the machine is operated at high speed and relatively heavy pallets are used, the objections to the upgrade as'a means for maintaining'contact between the pallets at and about the delivery end of track 1 become more serious for the reasons previously noted. I V

I have illustrated the lower run or return portion of the track of my machine as provided with an upgrade 15, a substantiall horizontal portion 16, and a downgra e 17 extending from the horizontal portion 16 to the sprocket wheels 11. It is not essential to my invention, however, that the return portion of the track have an up-- grade as I contemplate employing a track with'a lower run or return portion which is substantially horizontal for approximately its full length, but is provided with a downgrade of relatively short length and disposed at a suitable inclination todeliver the pallets to the sprocket'wheels.

Travel of the pallets upon the return portion of the track is retarded by suitable means I of 'a character such that it assures maintenance of contactbetween all of the pallets located between such device and the upper portions of the sprocket wheels, at all times. This device is supplemental to the return portion of the track and is of such a character as to prevent separation of the pallets due to momentum.

In the form of my invention illustrated, I have shown a friction shoe structure 18 disposed abovethe u ade 15 of the return portion of the tracfi. posed beneatha suitable frame 19 formed of end I-beams 20 and connecting channel beams 21 A screw rod 22 is suitably secured to each end of each of the I-be'ams 20 and is connected by a turn buckle 23 to a similar screw rod 24 which is secured by a bracket 25 to an adjacent upright 26 of the frame 1. Coil springs 27 are seated, at their upper 'ends, upon hearing plates 28 having depend-' ing centering studs 28a fitting into the ends of the springs, these plates bearing against the under face of I-beams 20. Plates or discs 29, similar to the plates 28, have studs 29a fitting into the lower ends of the springs 27 and these plates bear against the upper faces of steel channel members 30 of the shoe structure. The shoe may be of any suitable or preferred construction, that illustrated comprising a plurality of members disposed in parallel relation and each including an upper channel member 30 to the underface of which are secured friction members 31. These members are in the form of sheets or layers of suitable thickness and may be formed ofwood, an asbestos composition, or any other suitable or preferred material or composition. The underface of each of the channel members 30 is preferably completely covered by the strips 31 which are secured thereto in any suitable or preferred manner, as by means of the bolts and,nuts 32 and 33, respectively. The strips or elements 31 provide what is, in effect, a brake lining for the I shoe. 1

This shoe is yieldingly urged downwardly by the springs 27. Tension rods 30, in the form of suitable lengths of strap iron, are secured, at one end to the shoe structure by means of a rod 35 which passes through the flanges of channel members 30 and through the ends of the tension rods 34, this rod being This structure is disrods 34 are secured at their other end, by means of angle brackets 38, to a cross beam 39 which is secured to uprights 40 of the main frame 1. As will be noted from Fig. 1, the rods 34 are disposed between the delivery end of the track and the shoe 18. In the operation of the machine, the shoe is subjected to endwise thrust due to its contact with the pallets moving beneath the shoe and this thrust is taken by the tension rods 34.

The track of the machine is of greater length than the train of pallets leavm an opening, or space, between the ends 0 the train to accommodate ex ansion ofthe pallets, as is well understoo in the art. As the pallets on the return portion, or lower run of the track,- move up the incline or upgrade 15 they pass beneath the friction shoe 18. This shoe is held in contact with the hottom wall or grate of the pallet, which is in inverted position, as illustrated in Fig. 3. As clearly illustrated in Figure 1, the shoe is of a length to contact the underfaces of a plurality of pallets simultaneously. This is advantageous as providing an extensive area of contact, such that the shoe is highly eflicient as a frictional retarding device without the'necessity of exerting excessive pressure upon the pallets,-such as would subject the I so track and frame of the machine, as we 1 as the propelling sprocket wheels, to undesirable stresses. Also, by having the shoe contact the under face'of 'the allet grate, and exert downward pressure t ereon, the pallet wheels 3 are held to the track'and ob'ectionable movement of the pallet away om the track is avoided, while a greater area of contact between the shoe and the individual pallets is obtained than is possible where a braking 0 member is employed which contacts some other portion of the pallet structure, such as the wheels. To permit'of ready entry of the pallets beneath the shoe, the ends of the friction covering or lining of the shoe members are rounded, as illustrated in Fi 4. By adjustingframe 19 toward and away mm the lower run or return portion of the track,

the friction or braking effect which is exerted by the shoe upon the pallets may be ing effect which occurs intermittently, due

to the use of the sprocket wheels, and m this way avoids separation and consequent hammering of the pallets upon the upgrade of the in from the field and scope of the same, and

I ntend toinclude all such variations, as .fall within the scope of the a pended claims, in this application in whic the preferred form only of my invention is disclosed. .What I claim is 1. In combination in a retarding device for use on sintering and like machines, a frame,

a plurality of friction members. disposed substantially parallel, to and spaced from the frame, and spring members confined between the frame and the friction members and resisting movement of said' friction members toward the frame.

, 2. In' combination in a-retarding device for use 'on sintering and like machines, a frame,

a channel member spaced from the frame, coils rings confined between one face of said I mem er and the frame, and a friction element on the other face of the channel member. -In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 12th da 0 July, 1928.

' ED 'ARD W. SHALLOCK.

varied to suit conditions. The adjustment is preferably such as to retard the pallets passing beneath the shoe to suchan extent as to assure contact between all of the pallets located between the shoe and the upper portion of the sprocket;wheels 11. To accomplish this result it is not necessary to exert such great pressure upon the pallets by the shoe as to subject the sprocket wheels to an objectionably heavy increase in load. The

"shoe acts to hold the pallets beneath the same in such manner as to effectively prevent any retrograde movement thereof, these being pushed from beneath the shoe y the following pallets. The shoe also acts to effectively choke or dampen the impulses or pushallets 

